Michael Cooper is a PhD candidate at the University of South Florida and has a master’s in philosophy from Texas Tech University and a second master’s in ethics and public policy from Suffolk University and has been working with the Advancing Machine and Human Reasoning (AMHR) lab at USF. His dissertation builds on this work by applying Buddhist philosophy of mind to issues in AI research.
What excites you about philosophy?
The ability to transform someone’s life through a mere argument, which is just a conical pattern of fluctuating sound waves, is the closest thing to a magic spell that exists. Practicing philosophy not only gives you a power to affect the world that isn’t based on material means, but also some clues as to how that power is best used. I’ve always tried to use philosophy as a lens by which we can make out the indistinct patterns of rational thought, to exercise those patterns we find worthy, and to exorcize those we find harmful.
While some seek final answers through philosophy, I revel in the continually-unfolding revelation of my own profound ignorance. Discovering some error that had eluded you for decades provides some of the same satisfaction as I have in finding that last bug in a collection of code. The workings of my own mind become clearer to me at such moments and things just work. With each new revelation, the metaphorical lens I use to view the minds of others and my own mind becomes slightly less clouded.
What is your favorite thing that you’ve written?
That’s a difficult question! Usually the last thing I’ve written is either my favorite or my least favorite thing. Recently, I had the opportunity to help shape and study a model of analogical reasoning through my work at the AMHR lab. We created a digital structure to map similarities and dissimilarities between two domains based on informal logic research and had the opportunity to study real people using the framework. It was a rare privilege to get to do some empirical work that speaks to a philosophical issue.
What are you working on right now?
I’m running the technology-end of a virtual conference being held in the memory of Dr. Charles Guignon and Dr. Martin Schönfeld. The presentations are recorded and will be available until January at http://www.philosophyinfriendship.com/. I anticipate a successful conference, and I’m proud to have created the framework for it for under $200.
I’m also working on writing a Kuhnean analysis of research priorities in machine learning (ML) with my co-author Dr. John Licato from our computer science department. The article explores the essential tension between convergent and divergent thinking as it applies to the emphasis on “transformative” research and “novelty” in ML.
If you could wake up tomorrow with a new talent, what would you most like it to be?
It would be nice to be a polyglot, able to read most or all of the philosophical work written in every language and speak to most of the people on the planet. I am envious of others who have more talent and experience in this area.
What do you like to do outside work?
When I can, I like to get out into the vast intricate landscapes of nature with my wife, preferably beyond the noises of humankind. It is not to seek the quiet, as I often have an audiobook or a PDF and screen-reading software, and nature itself is not quiet. Animals are busy about their noisy business much like humans, if you’re listening carefully. Their business makes no demands on me, though, and I’m free to focus on them in their neigh-infinite complexity and beauty or to ignore them as I see fit. I find such travels profoundly peaceful and an aid to focus.
What would your childhood self say if someone told you that you would grow up to be a philosopher?
Wait, people get paid to read complicated books and talk about them? Awesome! I was going to do that anyway.
If you could have a one-hour conversation with any philosopher or historical figure from any time, who would you pick and what topic would you choose?
I’d love to pick Wittgenstein’s brain on the topic of contemporary natural language models such as GPT-3. In some ways, these models follow Wittgenstein’s arguments about the structure of natural language. They are built around vast associational networks which can only be understood and used holistically. As a result, even when such language models are successful at some task, it’s often hard to explain how they accomplished their goals, or how to improve upon them for the next generation of software.
Wittgenstein made his insights into natural language before such models were available, but even so he was able to anticipate many of the difficulties in explaining how a system might occasionally come up with good answers. I can only imagine that if he had more information to work with, he might see further still into the structure of language. Natural language processing could surely use such insights, and they would make my work with the AMHR lab easier.
Where would you go in a time machine?
The future! Fortunately, I’m already headed that direction (at normal speed).
What cause or charity do you care about most?
I am most concerned about political corruption. The group that best targets that issue is Represent Us. There is a plethora of other worthy causes, but many of them are either caused or exacerbated by politicians who seek their own continued power and wealth. It is a problem on both sides of the aisle and no political ideology, no matter how well-thought out or grand can surmount it by strength of argument. After all, no political ideology can be properly implemented without careful attention to ethical rules and transparency. Political corruption sits at the crossroads of so many other issues that combatting it may be the most effective way to help the country and the world.
This section of the APA Blog is designed to get to know our fellow philosophers a little better. We’re including profiles of APA members that spotlight what captures their interest not only inside the office, but also outside of it. We’d love for you to be a part of it, so please contact us via the interview nomination form here to nominate yourself or a friend.
Dr. Sabrina D. MisirHiralall is an editor at the Blog of the APA who currently teaches philosophy, religion, and education courses solely online for Montclair State University, Three Rivers Community College, and St. John’s University.
